Poets Aharon Shabtai and Taha Muhammad Ali
to Give Readings at UNCA

Taha Muhammad Ali

Aharon Shabtai

UNC Asheville's Creative Writing Program and Center for Jewish Studies will host an evening with poets Aharon Shabtai and Taha Muhammad Ali at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, at UNCA's Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall. This event is free and open to the public.

Shabtai is the foremost Hebrew translator of Greek drama and the author of a number of poetry collections. He attended the Tel Nodau School and the Educational Institute at Kibbutz Merhaviya. After his military service, he studied Greek and philosophy at the Hebrew University, Sorbonne, and Cambridge. He has also taught theater studies in Jerusalem. In 1993 he was awarded the Prime Minister's Prize for translation. He lives in Tel Aviv.

Ali, who is originally from the Galilee village of Saffuriya, has written a number of books of poetry in Arabic, including "Fourth Qasida," "Fooling the Killers" and "Fire in the Convent Graveyard." He currently lives in Nazareth.

Shabtai and Ali will read their works in their original languages, Hebrew and Arabic. Celebrated poet and translator Peter Cole will translate the works in English. In addition to his translations of Shmuel HaNagid and Solomon Ibn Gabirol, Cole is the translator of "Love and Selected Poems" by Shabtai and "Never Mind: Twenty Poems and a Story" by Ali. He lives in Jerusalem.

The program is co-sponsored by UNCA's Cultural and Special Events Committee.

For more information, contact UNCA's Center for Jewish Studies at 828/251-6576.

Media Contacts:

• Dr. Rick Chess, Director of the UNCA Center for Jewish Studies, 828/251-6576
• Jill Yarnall, UNCA Public Information Assistant Director, 828/251-6526